A Guide To Bay Leaves (How To Dry Bay Leaves)

Discover the world of dried and fresh bay leaves with our comprehensive guide, the benefits they bring to your dishes and health, plus learn how to dry bay leaves at home. Uncover bay leaves’ versatility for use in stews, pickles, sauces, roasts and more.

There are few other ingredients that can add as much unique  and delicious flavoring to a dish as dried or fresh bay leaves. Bay leaves don’t just taste good, they also have  useful health benefits as well. While buying, dried bay leaves from a store is a good option, it’s far more economical to dry them at home.  We have included four easy methods for drying bay leaves  If you want to know how….…read on…

Jump to:

• The Benefits of Bay Leaves
• Chef's Note
• Instructions For Drying Bay Leaves At Home
• How to Store Bay Leaves
• How to Use Dried Bay Leaves in Your Dishes
• More How-To Recipes
• A Guide To Bay Leaves (how to dry bay leaves in the oven)

The Benefits of Bay Leaves

Bay leaves are perfect for enhancing your culinary creations. In Addition they offer some unique benefits for your body?

• Versatility : Many cuisines make use of bay leaves. You can be sure a supply of fresh or dried bay leaves will come in handy, whatever you prefer to cook.
• Immune Boost : Bay leaves contribute to a robust immune system that can defend against illnesses as they’re packed with Vitamins A, B6 , Vitamin C and Vitamin E.
• Blood Sugar Regulation : Since bay leaves contain phytochemicals and essential oils, they can reduce blood sugar levels.
• Digestive Health : Bay leaves contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. These both contribute to a healthy digestive system as part of a balanced diet.
• Stress Relief : The aroma of bay leaves has long been used as a great way to reduce stress. If you feel the pressure in the kitchen, just bust out the bay leaves and take a sniff.

Chef's Note

Both dried and fresh bay leaves need to be removed from a dish once it’s finished cooking. This is because, while they impart a rich and subtle flavor, they’re not particularly pleasant to eat, also their dry and hard texture can be a potential choking hazard. So, once your dish is done, grab a spoon and fish out those bay leaves.

Instructions For Drying Bay Leaves At Home

How To Dry Bay Leaves In The Oven

• Remove the bay leaves from their stems, and wash and dry them on a paper towel.
• Preheat the oven to 100°C (200°F) or the lowest temperature your oven can go.

• Spread the bay leaves out on a baking sheet in a single layer, don’t let the leaves overlap. You might need more than one baking sheet.
• Pop the baking sheets in the preheated oven.
• Check on them after 15 - 20 minutes and turn them over.
• Repeat this process until the bay leaves are dry and brittle. This can take between 1 and 2 hours.
• When the bay leaves are ready, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool on a cooling rack until they are completely cold.
• Transfer the dried bay leaves to an airtight container, label and date them.
• Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

How To Dry Bay Leaves In The Microwave Oven

(We personally do not recommend this method)

• Remove the bay leaves from their stems, and wash and dry them on a paper towel.
• Spread the bay leaves out in a single layer on a microwaveable plate.
• Microwave for 30 seconds, turn them over and repeat the process another 1 - 2 times until they become dry and brittle.

• When the bay leaves are ready, place them on a cooling rack until they are completely cold.
• Transfer the dried bay leaves to an airtight container, label and date them.
• Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. 

Air Drying Bay Leaves

•  Wash and dry bay leaves.

There are two different methods to naturally dry bay leaves

Method 1

• Tie the bay leaves into small bunches with string.
• Hang them upside down in a cool, well-ventilated room away from direct sunlight until dry.
• Transfer the dried bay leaves to an airtight container, label and date them.
• Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. 

Method 2

• Line a baking sheet with a paper towel.
• Spread the bay leaves out on the baking sheet in a single layer, don’t let the leaves overlap. You might need more than one baking sheet.
• Leave the bay leaves to dry in a cool, well-ventilated room away from direct sunlight.
• Turn the leaves over every couple of days until they become dry and brittle. The drying process can take between 1 and 2 weeks, depending on where you live.
• Transfer the dried bay leaves to an airtight container, label and date them.
• Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

Drying Bay Leaves With A Food Dehydrator

• Remove the bay leaves from their stems, and wash and dry them on a paper towel.
• Preheat food dehydrator to 35°C to 46°C (95°F to 115°F).
• Spread the bay leaves out on the dehydrator trays in a single layer, don’t let the leaves overlap.
• Pop the trays in the preheated dehydrator and allow them to dry.
• Check on the bay leaves every hour, the drying process can take between 1 - 4 hours.
• When the bay leaves are dry and brittle, remove them from the dehydrator and allow them to cool on a cooling rack until they are completely cold.
• Transfer the dried bay leaves to an airtight container, label and date them.
• Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. 

How to Store Bay Leaves

Store dried bay leaves in an airtight containers away from harsh light for later use. Glass Mason jars or screw-top containers are perfect for bay leaf storage. When stored correctly in a dark place, dried bay leaves keep their flavor for up to a year.

Chefs Tip: You can grind your dried bay leaves with a pestle and mortar to save space or to use in herb and spice mixtures.

How to Use Dried Bay Leaves in Your Dishes

• Stews : While cooking, toss a few of these aromatic leaves into your stew for an unparalleled flavor boost. Simmer on a low temperature for a long time for best results.
• Pickles : Incorporating dried bay leaves into a brine is a great way to cut the harsh taste and add a more subtle flavor profile.
• Sauces : Whether it’s a gravy, tomato sauce, or curry, bay leaves take sauces to the next level with their rich herb undertones.
• Meat Roasts : Adding this delicious herb to chicken, beef brisket or lamb, is an easy way to impart some delicious flavors to enhance you roast.
• Infused Rice : Give your grain dishes a subtle fragrance by popping just a single bay leaf into the pot as it’s boiling.
• Bouquet Garni : Create a flavor combination by tying together bay leaves with other herbs like thyme and parsley. You will then have a ready-made aromatic bundle to add a more intense flavor to soups, stews, and sauces.
• Infused Oil and Vinegars : Once you’ve got your bouquet Garni, infuse it with some olive oil or different types of vinegar to heighten the flavor and add it to salad dressings or marinades.

More How-To Recipes

Now you know how to dry bay leaves in the oven and store them for later use, plus how to incorporate them in your everyday cooking. The best part is you can repeat these simple steps with other herbs too! If you dried your own bay leaves at home, what method did you go for? Let us know in the comments below.

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